The morning after making his NHL debut on Nov. 30, Michael McLeod met with Devils coaches in Newark. Later that day, the 2016 first-round pick went back to AHL Binghamton, capping a brief first stint in New Jersey.

From that meeting, Devils coaches and management made the decision to return him to Binghamton based on their assessment, plus the one McLeod gave of his own game.

“The words out of his mouth: ‘I have to get to get to another level. It’s bigger here. It’s stronger here. It’s faster here,’" Devils coach John Hynes said. "Now you have a real important part of your organization, he’s got a taste of the NHL, he’s gone down and done a good job in Binghamton. But he himself says, ‘My face-offs, my wall play, my speed, all those things are at a higher level.’”

Hynes did say McLeod’s debut came in a game where he didn’t get many opportunities. McLeod played just 5:36 in a 6-3 loss to the Washington Capitals, where the Devils trailed for the majority of the night. The two teams combined for 19 minutes of power plays, and McLeod did not have a role on either of the two special teams units. Hynes also said McLeod was, understandably, nervous heading into his first career game.

Hearing that out of McLeod might sound like a red flag, but Hynes pointed to it as an important step in McLeod’s evolution as a player.

“We think it was a great thing for his development, for the organization,” Hynes said. “Now you have a motivated player that’s self directed in the sense that he knows he’s got to improve and what he needs to work on in Binghamton.”

In 22 AHL games this season, McLeod has three goals and eight assists for 11 points. He’s still in the beginning of his first pro season at any level, so Hynes and Devils brass will let him continue to develop his game.

“He’s had lots of success as a young player, but he’s not above playing in the American League and earning his stripes and understanding his game has to be better,” Hynes said. “It’s not just all about being in the NHL, living the NHL lifestyle. This kid wants to play hockey. He wants to get better. He’s appreciative of the opportunity. It was a great development experience for him, but it’s guys like that, that understand where they’re at in their careers and they have the right mindset, those are the guys that develop.”